Nayeem Ahmed Khan, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, currently detained illegally in New Delhi’s Tihar jail, has raised serious concerns about the political injustices prevailing in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Nayeem Ahmed Khan in a message from the jail emphasized that the blanket impunity enjoyed by the Indian armed forces under draconian laws is the primary obstacle in holding accountable those involved in serious war crimes and gross human rights violations in IIOJK over the past 35 years. He highlighted the use of oppressive laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) by the Indian government, particularly after August 5, 2019, which has plunged the occupied territory further into uncertainty. Nayeem condemned the BJP government’s suppression of dissent under the notorious Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which has eradicated any space for democratic dissent in IIOJK.
The APHC leader lamented that the authoritarian policies of the Indian government have turned IIOJK into an open-air prison where individuals have no right to voice their opinions against Indian atrocities. He stated that politicians, journalists, human rights activists, and ordinary Kashmiris are treated as third-class citizens devoid of fundamental freedoms. Khan pointed out that those who dare to speak up are silenced indefinitely through imprisonment under sedition laws.
Nayeem Khan emphasized that it is imperative for influential governments worldwide to reassess their policies towards Kashmir and acknowledge the grave crimes committed by India against Kashmiris. He appealed to the United Nations and other human rights organizations to play an active role in resolving the Kashmir dispute.—KMS
